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    Nature. 2002 Sep 26;419(6905):407-11. Epub 2002 Sep 11.

    Active genes are tri-methylated at K4 of histone H3.

    Source

    Wellcome Trust/Cancer Research UK Institute and Department of Pathology, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge, CB2 1QR, UK.

    Abstract

    Lysine methylation of histones in vivo occurs in three states: mono-, di- and tri-methyl. Histone H3 has been found to be di-methylated at lysine 4 (K4) in active euchromatic regions but not in silent heterochromatic sites. Here we show that the Saccharomyces cerevisiae Set1 protein can catalyse di- and tri-methylation of K4 and stimulate the activity of many genes. Using antibodies that discriminate between the di- and tri-methylated state of K4 we show that di-methylation occurs at both inactive and active euchromatic genes, whereas tri-methylation is present exclusively at active genes. It is therefore the presence of a tri-methylated K4 that defines an active state of gene expression. These findings establish the concept of methyl status as a determinant for gene activity and thus extend considerably the complexity of histone modifications.

    PMID:
    12353038
    [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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